Spring and Woman... These days, when the spirit of awakening and renewal
reigns throughout the country, we realize more deeply how consonant these
concepts are, enhancing the best qualities, love of life, noble aspirations in
us.

A solemn event was held in
connection with March 8 – International Women’s Day, at Uzexpocenter, in
Tashkent.

Women, talented girls from the
Republic of Karakalpakstan, all regions and the city of Tashkent, who work
effectively in all spheres of society for the benefit of the Motherland, as
well as representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Uzbekistan were
invited to the event.

With love and respect for a woman

Participants of the event laid
flowers to the Monument of Independence and Humanism, the monument to the Happy
Mother, got acquainted with the sights of the capital.

At the solemn event, the President
of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated the country’s
women on the holiday.

At present, women of Uzbekistan are
conducting active political, social and scientific activities. Among them there
are more than 500 doctors of science and academics, 15 Heroes of Uzbekistan, 17
senators, and 16 deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. Women
constitute more than 23 percent of the total number of deputies of local
Kengashes and 45 percent of employees in various spheres and industries.

With love and respect for a woman

A set of measures on increasing
socio-political activity of women, strengthening their role in the state and
public governance, ensuring employment, wide attraction to entrepreneurial
activity, further strengthening family is planned in the State Program on
implementation of the Action Strategy on five priority areas of development of
the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2017-2021, in the Year of supporting active
entrepreneurship, innovative ideas and technologies.

This year this holiday is held in a
special way. A group of women was awarded honorary titles, orders and medals
for outstanding services in strengthening family, educating the younger
generation in the spirit of patriotism and fidelity to the ideas of
independence, respect for national and universal values, preserving the rich
centuries-old spiritual heritage of people, successful implementation of
socio-economic reforms and improving the well-being of the population, for
productive work in manufacturing industries, in entrepreneurship, science, education,
healthcare, culture, art and other spheres of life of the country.

With love and respect for a woman

In addition, 28 girls – two from
each region – were awarded the State Prize named after Zulfiya for their unique
talent, initiative, success and special achievements in the spheres of
education, science, literature, culture, art, sports and social activities.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev
solemnly awarded high awards to laureates.

The event ended with a concert
program with participation of art masters and young performers.

On March 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in the Republic of
Tajikistan at the invitation of President Emomali Rahmon.

President of the Republic of
Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon met the President of Uzbekistan at the international
airport of Dushanbe.

This was reported by the Press
Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The national flag of Uzbekistan is
raised in honor of the President of Uzbekistan, throughout the city. Thousands
of Tajiks went out into the street, whose joyful faces testify that this visit
is a long-awaited event for them.

Indeed, this is the first state
visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Tajikistan in the history of bilateral
relations. The sides consider these negotiations as an opportunity to raise the
cooperation of the two countries to a qualitatively new level, to fill it with
concrete content.

As previously reported, the state
and prospects of development of bilateral cooperation in various spheres will
be discussed during the high-level negotiations, regional and international
issues of mutual interest will be considered.

It is planned to adopt historical
documents aimed at developing cooperation in various spheres, creating
amenities for citizens of the two countries.

Within the framework of the visit, a
business forum and the National industrial exhibition of Uzbekistan, a concert
with participation of art masters of the two countries will be held.

A powerful impetus to this has been afforded by the political will and
joint practical efforts of the two heads of state. During the last period,
Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Emomali Rahmon met four times on the platforms of
international and regional organizations. Telephone conversations were held on
several occasions, during which the phased achievement of specific tasks to
strengthen close cooperation for the benefit of the peoples of our countries
was discussed, in the name of ensuring peace and stability in the region.

It is worth noting that there are
positive results. Thus, in 2017, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and
Tajikistan exceeded 230 million US dollars with a growth of more than 20%. To
achieve this indicator, contacts between business circles of our two nations
established during exhibitions and fairs of products of industrial enterprises
and business forums in Dushanbe and Tashkent were instrumental. Events as such
are held these days in the capital of Tajikistan.

Worth recalling that the trade
between the two republics is carried out on free trade mode, without any
withdrawals. Also important in this area is the Joint Uzbek-Tajik Commission on
Trade and Economic Cooperation, established in 2002, the latest meeting of
which was held this January in Dushanbe.

Expounding on the prospects for
cooperation on this front, it can be noted that the trade houses of Uzbek and
Tajik major companies in the territories of the two republics opened last year
will contribute to the development of ties, as will the creation of a bilateral
business council. The members of this body are entrepreneurs, representatives
of ministries, other agencies, government bodies and chambers of commerce and
industry, and the first meeting of the council will be held as part of the
forthcoming state visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Tajikistan.

A significant breakthrough in
bilateral relations is also made in border issues. On 1 March, a total of nine
checkpoints across the Uzbek-Tajik state border were opened with a festive
ceremony.

Residents of the two countries, who
were eagerly awaiting this event, can now easily make mutual trips through the
Jartepa-Sarazm, Kushkent-Ura-Tube, Uchkurgan-Khavatag, Khavastabad-Zafarabad,
Bekabad-Khashtyak, Pap-Navbunyod, Ravat-Ravot, Gulbahor-Ayvadj checkpoints and
the Amuzang-Khoshadi railway one. Yesterday, March 7, the first passenger train
on the route Kulyab-Moscow proceeded through the latter point.

This, of course, contributes to the
further expansion of bilateral relations in all spheres, including cross-border
cooperation. By the way, the first steps in this direction were made as early
as August 29, 2017, when the delegation of Tursunzade district of Tajikistan
took part in ceremonial events in Termez, timed to the Independence Day of
Uzbekistan. And on September 9, representatives of the Surkhandarya region
shared the joy of the residents of the neighboring country during the
celebrations dedicated to the Independence Day in the city of Nau, Tursunzade
district.

It is worth noting that 2017 was a
breakthrough in the development of cultural and humanitarian areas. For the
first time in 20 years, the Days of Culture of Uzbekistan in Tajikistan, as
well as the Days of Culture of a neighboring country on our land, have been
organized. The events signaled a triumph of friendship between the two peoples.

Concerts of popular pop singers of
Uzbekistan in various cities of Tajikistan were repeatedly held, and tours of
the Puppet Theater of Uzbekistan and performances of the Tashkent Circus troupe
in Dushanbe were organized.

In a word, all of the above
indicates that the development of bilateral cooperation will only increase, and
new tasks and goals on the path of strengthening mutually beneficial
cooperation will be determined during the upcoming state visit of the President
of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Tajikistan.

Uzbekistan’s Center for Development
Strategy has been included in the 2017 annual rating of the Global Go To Think
Tank Index Report.

This is the most authoritative global rating of think tanks. The report
is prepared in the framework of the Analytical Centers and Civil Society
Program of the University of Pennsylvania (USA) to study the role of think
tanks in governments and civil societies, and to increase their capacity and
effectiveness around the world.

During the rating the activity of 7,815 think tanks for the last year
was analyzed. The rating presents various nominations, which, in turn, are
grouped into four main groups. The ranking is based on the results of a survey
of more than 62 thousand authoritative experts, journalists, politicians and
experts in the field of economic and political studies entered in the TACTSP
Global Think Tank Database.

Based on the results of the rating, the Development Strategy Center of
Uzbekistan entered the top 50 in the nomination “The Best New Think Tank in
2017” along with such influential institutions as the National Foundation for
American Policy, the Chinese center “One Belt, One Road” and “Scientific
Platform for Integration and Society in the Netherlands. In this nomination,
the think tanks that were created over the last 24 months and are centers of
excellence were considered.

As a rule, this list includes organizations whose activities are based
on the development of concrete proposals for the successful implementation of
reforms that allow the society to introduce concomitant changes in the
socio-economic life of the country, as well as an energetic entry into the
world arena.

Worth reminding that today the Center for Development Strategy operates
in several areas. First of all, it is engaged in covering the implementation of
the activities of the Strategy of Actions among the general public. It also
promotes an open dialogue between the state and the population through various
forums, conferences, public discussions and sociological surveys.

In addition, the CDS actively cooperates with international and foreign
organizations, research, information and communication organizations,
analytical and educational institutions.

The specialists of the Center regularly provide expert opinions on draft
bills, prepare analytical reports within the framework of the Strategy for
Action, and also submit proposals for drafting government programs by examining
the opinion of the population and the best practices of foreign countries.

On March 7, a business forum of representatives of business circles of
Uzbekistan and South Korea was held at the Youth Creativity Palace in Tashkent
within the framework of the visit of the delegation led by the Honorary Consul
of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Republic of Korea, CEO of
Evergreen Motors Kim Chang-keon.

More than 300 representatives of
ministries and departments, companies of the two countries responsible for such
spheres as economy, investment, trade and industry, tourism, construction,
logistics, engineering, ICT, energy, electrical engineering, agriculture, food,
chemical and light industry, healthcare took part at the event organized by the
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with the Union of Youth of
Uzbekistan and Tashkent City Khokimiyat.

The state visit of the President of
Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Republic of Korea in November 2017, as
well as intensification of contacts at various levels, opened a new page in
development of bilateral relations.

At the business forum, Chairman of
the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan Adham Ikramov, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to Uzbekistan Kwon
Yong-woo and others noted that thanks to the agreements reached during the
meetings of the heads of the two states, the trade, economic and investment
cooperation of Uzbekistan and South Korea has risen to a new level.

Today, there are more than 460
enterprises with participation of South Korean capital and 75 representative
offices of companies of the Republic of Korea, in Uzbekistan. The total volume
of South Korean investments attracted to the economy of Uzbekistan exceeds $7
billion. It should be emphasized that Uzbekistan accounts for the largest part
of the trade turnover between the Republic of Korea and the countries of
Central Asia.

During the forum the guests were
informed in detail about the conditions created for investors in Uzbekistan, in
particular, the opportunities for free economic and small industrial zones, tax
and customs privileges and preferences.

"Uzbekistan is an important trade
partner of South Korea in Central Asia”, says Kim Chang-keon, CEO of Evergreen
Motors. – Our mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, industry, tourism, as
well as in the sphere of production of building materials, electrical
engineering and many other areas is further developing and strengthening.
Within the framework of the forum, we discussed the prospects for cooperation
in the assembly of spare parts for Hyundai cars and processing of natural
resources.

Within the framework of the forum,
"business – to business" meetings and negotiations were also held.

A monument to two outstanding
representatives of Uzbek and Tajik literature – Alisher Navoi and Abdurakhman
Jami is erected in Samarkand central park named after Alisher Navoi.

The sculptural composition of red granite, made in the sixties of the
last century by famous sculptors H.Khusniddinkhujayev and V.Lunev, was
previously located next to the former hotel “Afrosiyob”, from where it was
later moved to another place.

Monument to two great poets

At the suggestion of the intelligentsia, artists and the public of
Samarkand, a place was chosen for the monument in the central park named after
Alisher Navoi.

Monument to two great poets

At the opening ceremony of the monument, the khokim of Samarkand region
T.Djurayev noted that Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have long been linked by close
ties of friendship and brotherhood, which will be further strengthened by the
forthcoming state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Tajikistan.

Monument to two great poets

Representatives of the regional khokimiyat, state and public
organizations laid flowers to the monument. Students read excerpts from the
works of the two great poets.